"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of Netflix and off various columns highlighting new movies as well.

The movie
title has me pondering if they’ve used the song by that same name somewhere in
the film. That’s not the only reason to go watch this one, however. The cast
for this film is amazing. It might just prove to be a proverbial diamond in the
rough.

One has to also take into consideration – it’s Bill Murray (Zombieland, The Monuments Men, The Grand
Budapest Hotel). For that same reason, I’ll wager some parts might be a
little odd; but the man has mastered kooky-funny.

This movie looks like it’s a slice of insanity. That’s not
necessarily a bad thing. The trailer promises dark comedy and plenty of
cringe-worthy gore. Sarah Silverman (The Muppets, Wreck-It Ralph, A Million Ways
to Die in the West) should be interesting to watch, here.

I also can’t wait
to see what Paul Rodriguez (Beverly Hills
Chihuahua, The Deported, Without Men) is up to in this film. The man is
hilarious.

I absolutely adore dance movies like this. I think it’s
wonderful that dance is featured so prominently in cinema in recent years. I
hope that it’s a trend that just keeps growing. To that note, this film might
not be unique, plot-wise. Honestly, this is one of the times that really
doesn’t matter. It should be highly entertaining.

I have three reasons for you
that this one is a ‘can’t miss,’ for those that love dance: Robert Roldan (Glee, Grace, Chasing 8s), Dominic
Sandoval (Battle of the Year, Everything
Before Us, Smosh: The Movie), and YouTube sensation Lindsey Sterling (Lindsey Sterling: Shatter Me, Lindsey
Sterling: Take Flight, 2015 Billboard Music Awards).

Robert and Dominic
both got their breaks on one of my favorite shows ever - So You Think You Can Dance (2005-); and are both phenomenal.
Lindsey is an America's Got Talent (2006) success story, and has over 2 million
subscribers on YouTube. This ‘dancing violinist’ has got the moves and some
serious musical talent.

17 – Shanghai (10/2)

Tag Line: In a world filled with secrets, solving a mystery can be
murder.

Production Companies: Living Films, Phoenix Pictures, TWC Asian Film Fund, The
Weinstein Company

This film looks like it is going to be an amazing period
piece; full of intrigue, action, and romance. The combination of Ken Watanabe (Inception, Godzilla, The Sea of Trees),
Yun-Fat Chow (Bulletproof Monk,
Confucius, The Monkey King), John Cusack (Igor, 2012, The Raven) in one film is definitely worth the price
of a ticket.

The culinary arts are gaining momentum in the entertainment
industry. This, no doubt, is partially thanks to the efforts of superstar chefs
like Gordon Ramsay (Love's Kitchen,
Hell's Kitchen, Masterchef), whom have prime-time shows on major television
networks.

Add to that, what appears to be a classic tale of redemption, helmed
by Bradley Cooper (All About Steve, The
A-Team, Hit and Run); and you already have the potential for greatness.
Then toss in the talents of Uma Thurman (The
Producers, Motherhood, Movie 43), Sienna Miller (Stardust, Foxcatcher, American Sniper), Emma Thompson (Pirate Radio, Brave, Saving Mr. Banks).

Shamelessly, I admit that this film shines a little more
brightly due to the fact that Liam Hemsworth (Knowing, Paranoia, Cut Bank) will be shirtless in it.

Now that’s
out of the way; I present to you that the film seems to have great story merit,
as well. Kate Winslet (All the King's
Men, The Holiday, Contagion) looks to be perfect for this role. This is
another redemption tale, told with wit and high fashion!

This movie looks like it will both be hilarious and an
emotional roller-coaster. I’ve really enjoyed James Wolk’s (You Again, Always Woodstock, The Stanford
Prison Experiment) performance in the show Zoo (2015-). I am interested in seeing what he brings to the big
screen.

Cloris Leachman (The
Croods, The Wedding Ringer, The Bronx Bull) is going to steal the screen.
As one of the greats, her performance in this film should be reason to see it,
all on its own.

What would happen if a bunch of Boy Scouts were faced with a
zombie apocalypse? Someone had the brilliant idea to make a movie about it!
There’s likely some blue humor involved, as indicated by the trailer – but the
main characters are adolescent boys. That sort of thing is expected.

It’s
October, and the movie has zombies. This is an essential ingredient for the
horror enthusiast’s countdown to
Halloween.

The trailer for this movie was pretty creepy. I can only imagine what the whole film must be
like, considering it’s unrated. A
possession and exorcism conducted in a mental health facility gives a broad
license for, literally, crazy shenanigans.

This exorcism looks pretty hardcore,
and what better time of year to watch movies like this, right?! It’s the season
for scaring ourselves silly. I am curious how it will measure against the
various exorcism films that have come before.

I loved the trailer for this movie. I am fairly sure that it
didn’t give away the important scary bits for this film, the way some do. It,
instead, left me catching my breath with so many questions. What in the world
is going on?!? Something supernatural, for sure; and Ali Larter (Confess, Resident Evil: Extinction, You're
Not You) can be counted on to kick its ass.

Fans of Once Upon A Time (2011-) will recognize a couple familiar
faces in this film, as well. Merrin Dungey (Masterwork,
L!fe Happens, Some Kind Of Beautiful) and Patrick Fischler (Dinner for Schmucks, Red State, 2 Guns),
whom played Ursula and The Author in last season, are both in this film.

What’s an October movie-to-see list without at least one
film that’s geared specifically for the holiday? It’s an incomplete list, I
tell you.

Of course, this is an anthology; so we know that some sections are
going to likely be hit or miss. I believe they were smart in giving the film a
well defined and cohesive framework for the segments to work around.

A town
goes berserk on Halloween, and these are the stories of the mayhem that ensues.
The majority of the segments featured in the trailer looked interesting. This
is definitely worth a watch to find out!

9 –
The Wicked Within (10/16)

Tag Line: We all pay for our sins, especially when the devil itself
claims our souls

This particular malevolent entity is determined to tear a
family apart, just for fun, before it can be cast out. Will it work? Will there
be a sequel? I can’t wait to watch and find out!

I really enjoyed the trailer. Sienna
Guillory (Inkheart, The Big Bang, High-Rise) looks to be magnificent in this
role. Her possessed character is full of sass, and offers eerie comedic
elements to the film. After just a little over two minutes of teaser, I’m hooked;
and I think audiences will be, too.

Keanu Reeves (The Lake
House, Henry's Crime, 47 Ronin) is making a comeback. I really enjoyed John Wick (2014), and am excited that
film is getting a sequel. I hope that it fares better than The Matrix (1999) sequels did. I digress.

The theme of this film seems to be a blend of the saying ‘no
good deed goes unpunished’ and a morality tale about giving in to temptation. I
can tell that this is going to be one of those I’ll be tempted to holler at (‘Don’t
do it!! It’s a trap!!’). I manage to only let those slip while watching at
home, thankfully.

Reeves has brought more maturity and depth to his last few
roles. I want to see if this trend continues!

The premise is
brilliantly imaginative. As a ‘child of the 80’s,’ this film seems to pay
homage to so many of the classic slasher movie tropes from that time period. I
am having a nostalgic fangirl moment.

I’ve also been dying to see what Nina
Dobrev (The Roommate, Arena, Let's Be
Cops) has been up to since the wrap of last season’s The Vampire Diaries (2009-).
The trailer seems to indicate that I will not be disappointed. Taissa Farmiga (Higher
Ground, The Bling Ring, 6 Years) is amazing in the American
Horror Story (2011-) anthology series.
I want to see what she brings to this film, and I am highly optimistic!

Done. I already want to watch this movie. I have only watched Oblivion (2013) about a bazillion times,
recently –mostly for the music; but I really enjoyed Olga’s performance there,
as well as the other films I’ve seen her in.

I’m excited that she is the focal
point of this movie, and she gets to kick some ass. Add Morgan Freeman and
James Purefoy into the mix, and this movie is guaranteed at the very least to
give an audience an eargasm. I could listen to them talk all day long –
reciting menus, the days off of a calendar...I would listen! The bonus is that
they’re both phenomenal actors.

The premise of this film is fairly straight forward. Matt
Damon’s (Ponyo, Contagion, Interstellar)
character gets stranded on Mars after his crew presumes that he has died. How in the world is he going to survive the
number of years that it will take for even the remote chance of rescue?

I am
highly curious what sort of ingenious things this character comes up with to
make supplies last. Necessity is, indeed, the mother of invention, as the old
English proverb advises.

It’s also fun to note that Sean Bean (The Hitcher, Black Death, Jupiter Ascending)
is in this film. How long do you think he will survive in this movie? Will he
make it to the end? His characters’ propensity for on-screen death is nearly a
thing of legend. I want to know how this one turns out!

With the smorgasbord of horror movies hitting the theaters
leading up to Halloween, there have been very few family-friendly flicks out
there to fit the season. This movie
looks to be perfect to fit that bill.

Any movie with Jack Black (The Holiday, Year One, Bernie) as the
lead is sure to be interesting, and likely highly entertaining. I believe this
movie will give a blend of creepy and comedy that people of all ages will enjoy
– without pushing younger audiences too far into the nightmare zone.

I loved
the Goosebumps books, growing up. I
think Black was an excellent choice to portray the author of the beloved
series, R. L. Stine.

It’s hard not to love the tale of Peter Pan – the boy who
never grew up. There have been many re-imaginings of this story over the years;
as well as various spin-offs. I think this film will take us to a cinematic
place that few have before. The visuals are stunning, and the cast is magnetic.

This is Hugh Jackman (Real Steel, Rise of
the Guardians, Prisoners) as you’ve never seen him before. I can’t wait to see the dynamic between his
Blackbeard, Hook played by Garrett Hedlund (Country
Strong, Lullaby, Unbroken), and young Peter played by Levi Miller (A Heartbeat Away, Terra Nova, Supergirl).

This prequel to the story we all know by heart promises to be a grand
adventure. Come fly with me to the box office!

I, like many other fans of Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014), have missed seeing the captivating Charlie
Hunnam (Cold Mountain, Deadfall, Pacific
Rim) on the screen. We need wait no longer!
Crimson Peak is the first of
several films featuring the actor, which will hit theaters in the next few
years.

Of course, then you have the impressive Tom Hiddleston (War Horse, The Pirate Fairy, I Saw the Light),
of Loki fame, involved with this film as well. Just that combination of acting
talent, alone, would draw me to the theater.

When you add Mia Wasikowska (Defiance, The Kids Are All Right, Jane Eyre),
whom was brilliant in Alice in Wonderland
(2010) and Jessica Chastain (The Help,
Mama, Interstellar); you have a recipe for a phenomenal movie.

This Gothic
horror period piece promises to be chilling (and I’m not just talking about the
snow featured in the trailers).

Vin Diesel (The
Pacifier, Babylon A.D., Guardians of the Galaxy) was really the only name
necessary to pique my interest for this movie.

When you add the other well
known actors to the film, such as Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones, Now is Good, Honeymoon), Elijah Wood (Grand Piano, Cooties, Open Windows), and
Michael Caine (The Prestige, Inception,
Kingsman: The Secret Service); you’ve really got my attention.

This film
promises to be a fantastical supernatural adventure. When Vin Diesel isn’t driving fast cars, we
enjoy him in roles that marry action with imagination. I believe this movie
will deliver on both fronts.

Calling the legion of Outlander (2014-) fans! Here's a bit of trivia for you. Lotte Verbeek (Sonny Boy, The Fault in Our Stars, Entertainment), whom played
Geillis Duncan in the show, is also in this film.

Crispian and his girlfriend, Erin, are heading to a remote
home to get together with the rest of Crispian’s family. It’s going to be their
first time meeting Erin and they’re looking forward to the trip.

Selina’s Point of View:

I loved this film.

Sure, I know the plot was flimsy and it featured some of the
most terrible attempts at faking a limp I’ve ever seen… but that doesn’t change
anything.

Sharni Vinson (Blue
Crush 2, Patrick, Austin Golden Hour) portrayed her character so perfectly,
that it made me forget the film’s flaws while I was in the moment. I believed
that Erin was who she was made out to be. All that kicking ass just seemed to
make sense. I found myself rooting for her and looking forward to what she
would do next. It was a well written character and amazingly acted. I’m very
interested in seeing more of Vinson in the future.

In the long run, I have to admit the film didn’t have much
substance. Ridiculous kills, flimsy story and a not-so-twist twist ending.

I’m giving it a much higher rating than it probably deserves
because I was thoroughly entertained and that, boys and girls, is the point of
a movie.

Cat’s Point of View:

I have been craving a good horror movie for a while now.
After a few roller-coaster rides of hope and disappointment in recent viewings;
finally, I do believe we hit the jackpot.

Sure, there were a few of your standard horror movie tropes
involved, but I found I didn’t mind so much. It gave me a security blanket with
a small sense that I could predict what was coming.

This movie had it all. There were slasher thrills, suspense,
subtle creepiness, jump scares, people absolutely losing their minds freaking
out, seemingly random serial killer violence, a twist, gore, and a kickass
person who just refuses to be a victim.

Speaking of Ms. Kickass; Sharni Vinson (Home and Away, Step Up 3D, Dragon Blade) was spectacular. I have
been a fan of this awesome Aussie since I saw her dance on the big screen.
She’s no stranger to being a kickass heroine. Before there were sharknados, she
was battling tsunami surfing sharks of doom in the movie Bait (2012).

The primary villains in this film, the animal-masked
murderers, were seriously creepy. Just a subtle tilt of a masked head in just
the right moment was chill-inducing.

The actor behind the tiger mask just happened to also be the
writer of this film, Simon Barrett (Red
Sands, V/H/S, Contracted). He is also the writer of recently reviewed film,
The Guest (2014). I am looking forward to seeing more work from
this writing/directing team.

Director, Adam Wingard (Pop
Skull, A Horrible Way to Die, V/H/S: segment "Tape 56") hit this
one right out of the park. He directed The
Guest with Barrett and his segment
of The ABCs of Death (2012) was one
of the very few I found tolerable in that anthology. He is also signed on as
the director for the upcoming live-action Death
Note movie; based on the anime of the same name.

I can’t wait!

I would have liked more explanation of ‘why’. They threw
enough breadcrumbs, however, for me to put together a general idea. This is a
film it will be fun to watch again to see if other subtle clues pop out!